Manufacture of selenium oxychlorid



VICTOR LENHER,

0?? MADISUN,

WISCUNSIN IYIANUFAC'IUBE OF SELENIUM QXYCHLGRID.

No Drawing. Application filed May 15,

To a 10. mm 2'2 may concern lie it known that l, Vuron Lnrrnnn, a citi-Zen oi, the United States. residing at Madi son, in the county of Daneand State of ilisconsin. have invented a new and useful Improvement inthe ll'lanufacture of Selenium Uxychlorid. of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention constitutes a modification of the process setforth in my application No, 381-623. filed in the United States PatentOtlice on even date herewith.

The 'irimary object of the invention is to provide a process ofproducing selenium oxyehlorid (tiel lch) on a commercial scale. The useof selenium oxychlorid in the arts unknown. The compound possessesremarhahle properties-as a solvent, and may he put to many usefulapplications. It will serve as a solvent for many substances orcompounds for which no known commercial solvent exists.

The process involves the formation of se- .lcnium oxychlorid by means ofselenium dioxid and hydrochloric acid, and dehydration, or removal ofthe molecule of water from the compound to yield the. product MUG/l Theprocess may be indicated by the following equation:

However, the molecule of water is not separated, as might he understoodfrom the equation given. Accordingly, it is proposed to employ adelrvdratinosubstance, such as phosphorus pentoxid (P 0 or calciumchlorid (CaCl to effect the dehydration.

lVhere phosphorus pentoxid is employed as a dehydrating agent, thereaction may proceed in accordance with the following equations:

The following; will serve as an example of the process:

Mix 111 parts by weight of S602 and 149. parts by weight of l,(),; heatthe. mixture mildly if desired, and pass the hydrochloric acid over thesame, thus obtaining the. result indicated .in the first half of thesecond equation nd finally the. result indicated in the last half of thesecond equation. The so lenium oxychlorid may he vaporized and condensedand the metaphosphoric acid (MPO,) will remain as a residue. 73 partsSpecification of Letters Patent.

1920. Serial No. screen.

by weight of hydrochloric acid satisfies the equation, when takenquantities of selenium dicrcid and ohospl1orus pentoxid given above. L

'lJheaiSe of phosphorus pentoxid as a dehyorating agent would render theprocess unduly expensive. Any other suitable dehydrating agent may beemployed, as for instance, caleium chlorid- (CaCh). Where this isemployed, the calcium chlorid and water (CaCl I-l O) remain a residue.

The reaction should he performed in a vessel which will not he attackedby selenium oxychlorid. Porcelain, terra eotta, or glass will not bedissolved by selenium ozrychlorid, and may be employed as a vessel, oras a linrng for the vessel. If desired, one may sin-- ploy a stillprovided with an eduction pipe and a suitable condenser, enabling; theselenium oxychloridv to he distilled and con densed. Suitable provision.should be made for removingthe residue from the still. It heat heapplied to facilitate the reaction, it is preferred to keep thetemperature low enough to avoid. vaporizing selenium dioxid as such. Theselenium oxychlorid, as torn'ied, acts as a solvent for the seleniumdioxid and facilitates the reaction. The seleniuni dioxid is readilydistilled and con doused. and thus may he recovered in a puri tiedcondition.

(hie. may obtain selenium dioxid in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by musing a reaction between selenium tetrachlorid (3e61,) andwater to form selenium dioxid and hydrochloric acid, after which thehydrochloric acid may be evaporated. This may be accomplished inaccordance with the following equation seer,+enf ozsed+inci inconnection with the Ill) ghlorid which comprises ranging a reactionsubjecting the heated ingredients to the aw i between selenium dioxidand. hydrochloric acid and separating the Water from the resultingeoinpound by means of a-dehydrating agent.

2. Theproeess of producing selenium oxycl'ilorid which comprises.mixingseleniunrdiexicl and a dehydrating agent and subjecting the same totheaction of hydroehlorie acid gas. Q

3. The process of producing selenium 0X) chlorid which comprises mixingselenium clioxid and a dehydrating agent and subjecting the same to theaction of hydroehloric acid and-the action o applied heat.

t. The process of producing selenium oxy; ehlorid which comprisesheating selenium dioxid and. a dehyd ating agenh'subjeeting' the same tothe action of applied heat, and.

tion of hydroehlori acid gas.

5. The prowess of producing selenium oxyehlorid whieh comprisesmoderatel heat ing a mixture of selenium dioxid and a de hydratingagent, subjecting the heated mixture to the action of hydroehlerie acidgas, heme" insuil'ieientthe temperature employed to volatilize theselenium (llOXltl, and after the eelenuun oxyehlm'id has been formed.

distilling and condensing the same, leaving: the dehydr-atine agent inthe residue.

6. The process of pro hu-ving eeleniinn oxy- (lIlOl'ltl which.eoinprises lIllXlllg selenium dioxid and (rah-lulu ehlorid and SltljCUUll tlie saine to the action of hydroehloriiavid gas and heat.

,VIGTOR ii rxnnii.

